The photograph above was taken soon after he was awarded his Wings (Photo Mr John Evans). He was 20 years old when he was killed and was buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
David Evans was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, son of Arthur Carson and Annie Margaret Evans. As a youngster he attended Blythewood Public School. He and his tail gunner, Bob Ballentine, were close friends prior to enlisting, both had attended University of Toronto Schools (UTS) and Grace Church-on-the-Hill. He enlisted in October 1941, and trained at Brandon Victoriaville, Cap de la Madeleine, Canada prior to receiving his Wings. He was Commissioned at St Hubert, Quebec and went overseas in December 1942.
He had three brothers and a sister, two of his brothers served in the War, Worder Evans served in the British Fleet Air Arm and younger brother John served in the RCAF in the UK also as a part of Bomber Command. David and Bob Ballentine, one presumes, must have met up in the UK whilst training at the O.T.U. which they attended. Not only were David and Bob friends but David's father and Bob's father were also friends as was Bob's sister and David, it was no doubt a double tragedy to both families when they were killed in the same crash.
David Evans was aged twenty when he was killed in the crash at Kepwick Bank, given his age, he must have been very young indeed when he enlisted if not one of the youngest pilots ever in the War having also carried out five months of service with an operational squadron.
Training and other flights undertaken by the airmen as a "Crew" is shown via a link from the previous main page to the history of this incident.
F/O Evans flew his first Operational flight with 434 Sqdn on the 18th of November 1943,
as a Dickie pilot to Sqdn Ldr Hockney in Halifax LK990. The target was Mannheim, take off was 17.00hrs and they returned at 00.22hrs.They also
reported the Gee and compass had both failed.
A further photograph David Evans, probably taken when he enlisted and a photograph of his headstone in Harrogate Cemetery.
The medals of F/O Evans, now in the collection of Mr M Johnson, Ontario, Canada (Photograph Mr M Johnson).
I would like to express my thanks to Mr John Evans, and Anne Evans, brother and neice of David Evans, and other members of the Evans family world-wide,
who have also contacted me and for the information they have been able to provide. Thanks also to Mr Johnson for the information and photographs he has kindly provided.